J. Wiss & Sons Co. Razors

Jacob Wiss founded the company in 1848. The earliest mention of razors is this Newark Business Directory 1853-54. The circa 1915 catalog claims that the Wiss razor has been the standard of razor excellence for 60 years. Production of Wiss razors appears to have ended in the mid-1920s. Their 1925 catalog lists razors on the cover, but they are not shown within. The market for straight razors collapsed after WWI. They gave all the GIs safety razors.

Catalogs With Razors

• The 1907 catalog has 23 pages on razors on pages 37-59.
• The c1915 catalog has 31 pages on razors on pages 46-76.
• A catalog from the early 1920s with razors is in the Smithsonian American History Museum Library.

Wiss Razor Ads

• I have come across only a few ads for razors.

Collected Pictures of Wiss Razors

I started harvesting pictures of Wiss razors that passed through eBay in March 2008. With the catalogs I have tried to match them against their style names. The best example of each variation was selected for here. There are 65 split up into:

• Razors With Etched Names. The models with names etched onto the blades only came in one configuration. Some of the c1915 models included a leather case. There is no pattern to the names and what you get. And they changed. Names in 1907 are completely different razors in 1915. This section also includes a few that have names and were not found in the catalogs.
• Razors with Plain Black Rubber Handles. By far the most popular were Oval and Flat Black Rubber Handles. These are actually part of the Style Letter group, but are letterless and only have a number from the below charts stamped on the tang. This is where all the single shoulder razors are.
• Razors with Style Letter. They went through the alphabet twice for these. For the second there is a 2 stamped before the letter on the tang. Some Style letters were dropped along the way. These were sold by the dozen. You picked your handle and then had a choice of 48 regular blades (3 concavities, 4 sizes, 4 points).
• Unidentified. These are the ones I could not find in the two catalogs that I have, did not have an etched name, and had a handle with style. With the auctions passed I can't ask about a letter stamped on the tang.
• Sets. Wiss sold weekly sets and travel sets. The offerings varied over time. Pictures include a sales assortment canvas pouch and a full seven day set.
• Strops and Safety Razors. Wiss sold many different strops, including an automatic one. There are very few pictures here. The strops probably deteriorated and were never really collectibles. There are six pages starting on page 71 in the 1915 Catalog. And there was a safety razor and blades, presumably towards the end.

Once into the pictures section you will be able to scroll around to all of them. Or they can be accessed All On One Page.

Wiss Blade Variations

• Points. Double shoulder blades (the standard) were available in any of these points. Single shoulder blades (rare) were made only with square, honed or round points.
  

• Concavity and Width. For the lettered styles there were three concavities and four sizes. Thin commanded a 25% premium over Medium Thin, and Very Thin had a 50% premium over Medium Thin. These numbers can be found stamped on the tip of the tang. For the double shoulder models:

  Medium Thin Concave			Thin Concave			Very Thin Concave
  Number	Size		Number	Size		Number	Size
  43	3/8		63	3/8		83	3/8
  44	4/8		64	4/8		84	4/8
  45	5/8		65	5/8		85	5/8
  46	6/8		66	6/8		86	6/8

  The 1915 catalog gives recommendations as to which blade for which person. It states that generally a 5/8" blade, Thin Concave gives the best of satisfaction. The more specific recommendations are:
  • For exceptionally tough and heavy beards: use a razor 6/8" wide, Medium Thin Concave.
  • For wiry beards, not very heavy: use a razor 5/8" wide, Medium Thin Concave.
  • For heavy, soft beards: use a razor 6/8" wide, Very Thin Concave.
  • For medium soft beards, which are possessed by most men: use a razor 5/8" wide, Thin Concave.
  • For soft beards, not heavy: use a razor 5/8" wide, Very Thin Concave.

• Single Shoulders. Most blades had two shoulders. A single shoulder was generally shipped with an Oval Black Rubber Handle, but they could be attached to any of the lettered styles. Once you know what to look for you will easily be able to distinguish between them. There are a mix of the two blade types on the Black Razor Page. The numbers stamped on the tang are:

  Medium Thin Concave			Thin Concave			Very Thin Concave
  Number	Size		Number	Size		Number	Size
  144	4/8		164	4/8		184	4/8
  145	5/8		165	5/8		185	5/8
  146	6/8		166	6/8		186	6/8

• Single Shoulders, Alternate Shape. These are not in either of the catalogs I have. These appear to have been discontinued by 1907. The blade shape is squarer where the shoulder is. I have a picture of a 245 and a 285. The numbers stamped on the tang are:

  Medium Thin Concave			Thin Concave			Very Thin Concave
  Number	Size		Number	Size		Number	Size
  244	4/8		264	4/8		284	4/8
  245	5/8		265	5/8		285	5/8
  246	6/8		266	6/8		286	6/8

• “Sure Grip” Blade. The ad copy for this option: "Will not slip from your fingers while shaving no matter how moist or wet your hands may be, for the construction of the tang prevents it. The under side of the tang has fine cuts like a file, while the upper side is finished with fine ridges." It was generally shipped with a Flat Black Rubber Handle, but they could be attached to any of the lettered styles.

  Medium Thin Concave			Thin Concave			Very Thin Concave
  Number	Size		Number	Size		Number	Size
  344	4/8		364	4/8		384	4/8
  345	5/8		365	5/8		385	5/8
  346	6/8		366	6/8		386	6/8

• “Sure Grip” Blade 400 numbers. A 464 blade appears on a Wiss Special and a 466 appears on a Wiss Sure Comfort. I do not know how they differ from the 300 numbers. They both have logos, making them a newer style.